James Comey said to be succeeding Robert S. Mueller.
Haraz Ghanbari/AP
President Obama has plans to nominate former senior Justice Department official James B. Comey—who served under President George W. Bush—as director of the FBI, according to sources close to the selection process who spoke to the New York Times. Comey is a former hedge-fund executive and a Republican, making his appointment a strong message of bipartisanship. He met with Obama about the position in early May, though it is still unknown when Obama will announce the nomination. The current director, Robert Mueller, will leave his post at the beginning of September.